Police Chaplains

Chaplain Carol Jackson has been a U. City resident since 1967 and graduated from U. City High School in 1974.  After graduating from Central MO State University in 1978 with a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration, she was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. from ROTC through the university.  She entered the St. Louis Police Academy in 1978 as a recruit for the U. City Police Department and graduated in 1979. She became a patrol officer after graduation and remained until retirement. She received police chaplain training from UCPD in the 1980s.

Chaplain Jackson retired as a Captain from the University City PD in October of 2016. After retirement,  she remained as a part-time consultant with the PD assisting with the accreditation process whereby accreditation was successfully obtained in December 2019. After retirement,  she remained active with neighborhood watch units, namely in the Musick neighborhood assisting with safety/security and neighborhood watch matters through Nextdoor and personal contact.  She retired from the US Army, Military Intelligence, as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2002.

 Chaplain Jackson has obtained higher degrees, M.A. and PhD., in Theology and Counseling and also certification as a Christian Counselor.  She has been ordained as a Christian minister through several denominations including non-denominational ministries.  She is currently the CEO of Carol Jackson Ministries, Inc. which was established in 1997 with non-profit 501(c)3 status.  She has served as assistant pastor and pastor over the past twenty years, currently in the position of a church leader with All Nations Church in University City.

 Chaplain Jackson remains active in her community participating in events and worthy causes and community needs.  She is currently a Commissioner with the University City Arts and Letters Commission.  Chaplain Jackson is excited to once again be a part of our wonderful and outstanding police department to serve our community as a police chaplain.

Rabbi Hershey Novack has been a Chaplain with the University City Police Department since 2017. He is a graduate of the University City Citizens Police Academy, has participated in chaplain training events, and has received two Certificates of Achievement from FEMA for participating in emergency management training seminars.

In the summer of 2019, he helped coordinate a seminar entitled “Responses to An Active Shooter in a House of Worship” that was presented by members of the UCPD. About 80 people from diverse faith-based communities participated.

During the Covid19 pandemic, he facilitated the distribution of thousands of containers of hand sanitizer and facemasks at no charge. Recipients included the police department and people who are without homes.

 The Rabbi is one of the founders of the Chabad House at Washington University located on Forsyth Blvd near Big Bend, where he is the executive director and senior campus rabbi. The center is a religious and social organization for college students and young adults that provides worship, education, social services, and referral and guidance. In 2016, he was named one of America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis by the Forward newspaper, and in 2021, he received the Visionary Award from JProStl, a branch of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. 

Currently, he serves on the board of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Ethics Committee, and as chair of the Washington University Interfaith Campus Ministries Association.

The Rabbi has been a resident of University City since 2002. He is married to Chana, and together they are the parents of four children. 

Chaplain Alverta Smith has been a chaplain with the University City Police Department since 2017. She ministers with an organization known as, Homicide, Ministers, and Community Alliances (HMCA), a division of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department-Homicide Division, which serves families of victims of homicide violence. She is also a board member of the Crime Victims Advocate Center (CVAC).  Her primary objective as a chaplain is to provide adequate spiritual care and education for victims, families, and the community.

 Prior to serving as a Chaplain for the UCPD, Chaplain Smith was a registered nurse with the St. Louis Public Schools for 25 years. She currently serves as a Professor of Nursing and Allied Health with the St. Louis Community College-Forest Park. She is the instructor, and presenter of nursing, allied health, and professional development courses with FOR FOLKS LIKE YOU, Inc.

Chaplain Smith obtained her nursing degree from Webster University. She also has a Master of Arts in Education Leadership from St. Louis University and is currently completing her Ph.D. studies with Newburgh Seminary. She is a licensed/ordained Minister and a Certified Chaplain, completing Chaplain training with the Chaplain Pastoral Education program at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center. 

Chaplain Smith is a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, Juvenile Conferences Center, Spiritual Care Association, National Association of Christian Ministries, National Optometric Association, and Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc sorority. 

Chaplain Smith is a resident of University City, along with her husband of 42 years Dr. Robert E Smith who owns and operates Smith Optometry which is also located in University City. She loves to travel with her husband, watch movies and theatre, and is an avid percussionist.